Coastal Plain League: The Nation's Hottest Summer Collegiate Baseball League

2013 Coastal Plain League Umpires

The Professional Baseball Umpire Corp (PBUC), a Minor League Baseball wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a working agreement to provide its reserve umpires to the Coastal Plain League in 2008. The agreement allows reserve list umpires to continue to develop their skills in a competitive environment, while waiting for the call from PBUC to work Minor League Baseball games. Prior to the start of the 2010 CPL season, the Coastal Plain League and PBUC extended its agreement through the 2014 CPL season.

"This is the first of its kind agreement and we are pleased to be working with the CPL in this capacity," stated PBUC Executive Director Justin Klemm. "Future PBUC umpires will benefit greatly from gaining valuable experience in a Minor League-like setting, while performing umpiring duties for collegiate all-stars also looking to showcase their skills. Our evaluators will be out in force to ensure these individuals are receiving proper training as they continue on the path of becoming professional umpires."

"PBUC is excited to have the opportunity to continue our successful relationship with the Coastal Plain League,” Klemm went on to say. “For the past three years we have experienced many benefits from our agreement. We have hired a higher quality umpire who is better prepared for the rigors of a professional baseball umpiring career. We look forward to working with the CPL staff to further the development of those umpires who take advantage of the experience that the Coastal Plain League and PBUC offer."

Since 2008, 110 PBUC reserve umpires have gotten their start in the Coastal Plain League, with an impressive 85 of them moving on since to work games in Minor League Baseball.

"We are very excited to reach an extension agreement between the Coastal Plain League and the PBUC,” said CPL President Pete Bock. “We have enjoyed working with Justin (Klemm) and his staff, as well as the reserve umpires during the first couple of years of our agreement. From talking with the umpires and the PBUC front office, it is apparent that our relationship is beneficial to both parties, and one we are excited to be continuing for several years to come. We feel that our quality of play and overall atmosphere will go a long way in helping the PBUC develop future Minor and Major League Baseball umpires."

PBUC is responsible for the training, evaluation and recommendation for promotion, retention or release of all umpires in the Minor League Baseball system throughout the United States and Canada.

Below are the 2013 Coastal Plain League Umpires: